Greenhorn. First gun. Cheapskate.

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Matapatapa

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I'm looking to buy my first gun, but i don't have that much to spend.

As i see it, i can get something like a pt92 and shoot remanufactured 9mm, get a glock+.22 lr conversion kit or get a used .223 bolt action ( less ammo shot per range trip= cheaper )

Or there is the milsurp route. Is a milsurp pistol /rifle a good option for a cash strapped greenhorn? Will i even be able to maintain it or will I be stuck with a rifle i can't get to work? Is surplus ammo available at 9mm cost per round or below?

From what Ive picked up , the quickest way to get better is to put as much lead downrange as possible.

I'm willing to spend upto 400 for the gun and 250 for two months worth of bang bang. I have rented out a gun before, so i estimate I'll use about 700-1000 rounds every two months.
 
Welcome to the forum.

Have you checked your local firearm shop, it is good to be friends with someone who can help guide you on local prices and options! :)
 
I'm currently living as a expat in south Asia, so visits to the local shop is out of reach. But i do own a place in Edmonton, and will be residing there a few months down the road.
 
Awesome sauce!

I am in your situation as well but I said to my self that I rather buy something good once than something bad twice. I kinda have decided on the remington 700 which can be found for a decent price. I look forward to seeing what you purchase.
 
Tbh , it doesn't really matter which.
The only real requirements is cheap gun that i can learn/grow with that is cheap on ammo.
 
Tbh , it doesn't really matter which.
The only real requirements is cheap gun that i can learn/grow with that is cheap on ammo.
 
I think you are getting me a bit wrong here. I just want to put down lots of lead at a reasonable cost. Learning is the most important thing, but that's entirely sitting on how much i can spend.

If i were to say, delay my plans for a month or two and up the price of the gun to 700 -800 dollars, what would you recommend in the .223 or 9mm range?
 
willisjake said:
There is not much cheap about this sport.
If cheap is what you value the most get a used .22 bolt gun.
Click to expand...

^^^ this.

cooeys 60/600/64 are great value. many sub $200 22's out there - savage / marlin included. For $400 you are almost in cz territory.

centerfire I'd recommend sks since cheap is a priority. again should be sub $200, or slightly above for a nice one.

I'd start with a non restricted. It'll be hard to get $0.25/round outside of 22 or 7.62x39. You can get that in 223 if you reload but a 223 deserves glass and that'll push it above your budget. Pistol calibers maybe but then you need to join a club and those cost.

Assuming you have a pal/rpal

EDIT: If you wait and up your budget there are savage 223's in the EE. Great value guns for target shooting.
 
Cheapest route would be the Daisy Red Rider and 8000 bb's, set u back $60. Or step up to the big leagues with a SKS and crate of surplus for under $600.
 
I can wait a bit and get something better. The real barrier is the cost of ammo.

Can you tell me more about the clubs? I've already looked around and gotten a feel for the cost of clubs, but where can I shoot rifles ( as you imply that they don't need clubs)
 
safehunter said:
^^^ this.

cooeys 60/600/64 are great value. many sub $200 22's out there - savage / marlin included. For $400 you are almost in cz territory.

centerfire I'd recommend sks since cheap is a priority. again should be sub $200, or slightly above for a nice one.

I'd start with a non restricted. It'll be hard to get $0.25/round outside of 22 or 7.62x39. You can get that in 223 if you reload but a 223 deserves glass and that'll push it above your budget. Pistol calibers maybe but then you need to join a club and those cost.

Assuming you have a pal/rpal

EDIT: If you wait and up your budget there are savage 223's in the EE. Great value guns for target shooting.
Click to expand...

SKS sounds like good advice, but I doubt 223 can be reloaded for much less than $.40
 
Anyone looked into the Savage Axis kit, comes with a scope which seems like a good starter kind of thing. Seen up and down reviews but for the money it will get you going.
 
You'll need someone from the Edmonton area to chime in, but here in Ontario, you can target shoot for free on crown land.

Two of my friends have an axis 223. Both are very happy and shoot in the MOAish range at 100 yards - probably 3x as accurate as an sks - they do have some decent glass on them though. I havent reloaded 223 in a while so I believe $0.40/per on reloads is probably more current. When I was shooting factory 223 I did like the value white box from winchester. Think they were around $0.50/per but my info is a bit dated, before the dollar slid. Regardless and IMHO, 223 will be your most economical center fire rifle round, with the notable exception of cheap milsurp rounds (7.62x39 or 54r).

My advice is still the same. Pick up a cooey 22 for $150ish, add a value pack of 22lr ammo and bank the rest. Keep saving for something bigger/better while you plink away.
 
7.62x39 with an sks, or one of those bolts available from CanAm, is probably your best bet (cheapest, but won't get boring like .22 does)

9mm is next best. That ammo is still relatively cheap, the carbines can be fired at (most) pistol ranges, girls aren't afraid of the recoil/noise and it's either pistol or carbine with quite a few options (both pricey and el cheapo).

.22 is getting so expensive, that I'm not sure there's much difference between corrosive 7.62x39 any more. .22 is fun in waves, then gets boring again.
 
Okay, I've looked around, and pistols are completely off the list. Having to shoot at ranges is expensive.

So now it's a throwdown between a sks and a .223
The cost of the firearm is a bit irrelevant, as i can wait a bit to get something better as advised by you gentlemen ; the cost of the ammo is the real kicker.

Which do you think has more to teach a beginner, a .223 bolt or a sks? I plan to keep it for about a year, maybe two and shoot till ive exceeded the limits of the equipment. Remember, learning and getting better is the number 1 priority. If i can learn more from a .223 then i can from the sks, I'll be happy to pick up a bolt and shoot bulk .223 .
 
Get a savage Axis in 223REM and shoot away !!

You'll get more benefits shooting a bolt 223 than an SKS. Or get a bolt action 22LR, lots of triggee time for cheap. Still loving my savage Mk2 FV, never getting rid of it and it comes out everytime I hit the range or the farm
 
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